Originally published March 24, 2008, on DuluthBudgeteer.com.
To drum up publicity for their new film "Leatherheads," Hollywood heavy hitters George Clooney and Renee Zellweger made a stop in Duluth Monday.
In honor of their visit, Mayor Don Ness proclaimed March 24, 2008, "Leatherheads Day" in the city.
The stars' appearance at the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center (better known as "The Depot") came just days after an early screening of the film at Lakes 10 for select members of the Twin Ports community.
The Depot was chosen for the four-city "Whistle Stop Express" tour because the film, which will be released nationwide April 4, is loosely based on Ernie Nevers' legendary Duluth Eskimos. The team, whose history was chronicled in Duluth News Tribune writer Chuck Frederick's book "Leatherheads of the North," was an early precursor to modern-day National Football League franchise the Washington Redskins. (Clooney said he had to call the team the "Duluth Bulldogs" because the NFL objected to players in the film consuming alcohol between games.)
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Following a lighthearted press conference, Clooney and Zellweger spent a lot of time fielding questions and signing autographs for their fans, who turned out to the Depot in droves.
For more information on the film, visit www.leatherheadsmovie.com . Or, to read about the history of the Duluth Eskimos, check out "Leatherheads of the North," which was recently released by the Duluth publishing house X-communication ( www.x-communication.org ).
"Discover Duluth" is an ongoing photo essay series by Matthew R. Perrine that highlights points of interest in and around the region. For more photos from this set, click on the accompanying photo gallery.
